The Association of the 4th Fighter Group

Leroy "Old Nick" Nitschke served his country in two world wars.

The Association of the 4th Fighter Group World War II, or A4FG, was established in 1968 and was originally made up of 8th Air Force veterans who served with the 4th and associated units between 1942 and 1945. Its purpose was simple: "To preserve the mementos and memories of this military unit, which distinguished itself as the first USAAF unit to be created outside the Continental Limits and was the highest scoring fighter group of WW II."

Leroy Nitschke, the 334 armament section chief known as "Old Nick" around Debden, was the primary force behind the formation and organization of the Association. Old Nick had served aboard US Navy destroyers in the Great War and answered the call again in WW II. His campaign of letter writing to 4th Fighter Group veterans started the ball rolling, culminating in the Association's first reunion in Elgin, IL in 1968 and its first national convention in Dayton, OH in 1970 on the 25th anniversary of the group's return to the US. Nitschke served as Association Secretary for many years, was its first historian and was A4FG president from 1975-77. Said author Garry L. Fry, another one of the few present back in the Association's formative days: "A lot more credit for the Association should be given to him than has been the present case." In the 70's membership was expanded to include family members and friends, and later other parties interested in contributing to the preservation of the legacy of the 4th, among them researchers, writers and aviation artists. These 'associate' members enjoyed the same privileges as the full members save for the right to hold office and vote in elections and on Association business. Recognizing the effect the dwindling number of full members had on the running of the organization, in 2006 the full members voted to grant associate members full privileges within the Association. The first associate member (AM) was voted in as President at the 2007 bi-annual meeting/reunion. As of 2011 all major offices, save that of Jr. Vice President, are held by associate members. However, the direction and scope of all A4FG activities are still determined by full members. One of the few remaining active WWII fighter associations today, the A4FG still holds reunions and publishes a quarterly newsletter for the members,The Eagle Eye. Today, members of the A4FG conduct research on the history of the group - scrutinizing existing records and digging up new sources of information in order to preserve the record of accomplishment of the men who served as accurately as possible. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Association, or have information or photos you would like to share, please contact us via the link above.